By Simone Midgett, Features Editor
Flashback to second grade: Valentine’s Day was practically the most anticipated day of the whole year. You stayed up way past your bedtime the night before just to cut a slit in an old shoe box and decorate it to show off for all of your 30 Valentines (or should I say classmates) and give them a place to put their little cards featuring Fun Dip, erasers shaped like hippos, and our favorite cartoon characters.
For some of us, we grew out of our endearment for this holiday. But for others, like myself, we still fill with excitement when we see the heart-shaped boxes packed with chocolates and teddy bears lining the shelves of Walmart starting in January.
To me, Valentine’s Day isn’t just a day to celebrate our significant others. It is a day to celebrate everyone we hold near and dear to our hearts, from friends to family to teachers — anyone who has had a positive impact on you. And yes, I am that girl who is in awe over any Nicholas Sparks movie I watch, but that is besides the point.
We see our teachers 180 days out of the year and we see them for seven hours each day. That is 1,260 hours a year that they put up with us, and for that we should show our appreciation.
Most of our parents see us every single day: They cook us dinner, some of them still do our laundry, they drove us everywhere until we could drive ourselves. Our parents and guardians are the people we should be eternally grateful for and show our endearment for, not just on Valentine’s Day, but every day.
Something that has recently spiked in popularity is what people refer to as “Galentine’s Day,” which is just for us girls to celebrate each other. What could be more exciting than a spin-off of Valentine’s Day that brings out the positives of being single? Nothing.
I am a strong advocate for Galentine’s Day. Women should empower other women. Girls should support other girls instead of romanticizing on the fact that Valentine’s Day can only be great if you have a boyfriend or girlfriend to share it with.
If you are really someone who is hung up on the idea of despising Valentine’s Day because you are single, you can even go to Hooters and shred a picture of your ex-boyfriend (or girlfriend) and get free wings. I truly can’t think of one bad thing about this holiday!
Also, I can’t forget to mention all of the candy that is on sale the day following Valentine’s Day. If there is one thing everyone believes is a plus to this holiday, it has to be that.
So the next time you are thinking about how miserable this holiday is or you can’t think of a reason to celebrate, stop and think again. There’s lots to love!
Junior Simone Midgett can be reached at midgettsa0827@daretolearn.org.
